Window regulator mechanism



Dec. 22, 1959 A. ARLAusKAs ETAL 2,918,274

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed March 13. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 22, 1959 A. ARLAusKAs ETAL 2,918,274

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed March 13. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N /l v.

L V' INVENTUM AORNE Y Dec. 22, 1959 A ARLAUSKAS ETAL 2,918,274 WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed 'March 13, 1958 5 sheets-sheet s ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 A. ARLAUSKAS ETAL 2,918,274

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed March 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS Dec. 22, 1959 A ARLAUSKAS ETAL 2,918,274

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed March l5, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VE N TIORS A T TOQNE Y United States Patent WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Alfonsas Arlauskas, Detroit, and Arthur W. Hollar, Jr., Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 13, 1958, Serial No. 721,220

4 Claims. (Cl. 268-421) This invention relates to window regulator mechanisms and more particularly to ventilator window regulator mechanisms.

The ventilator window regulator mechanism of this invention is intended primarily for use with ventilator vwindows of the type which are swingable about a generally fixed pivotal axis for movement between open and closed positions. This type of ventilator window is often used in vehicles bodies, either as a rear quarter window or as a door ventipane window. In the past the regulator mechanisms have often been of the manually operable crank type which included a gear drive unit for moving the ventilator window between open and closed positions,

with an independent latch device being provided to hold the window in closed position against forcible entry.

The regulator mechanism of this invention is of the push-pull slide type and is operative to move the ventilator window between open and closed positions with a minimum amount of effort being exerted by the operator. In addition, the mechanism is operative to hold the window in closed position against forcible movement thereof toward an open position without benefit of any independent latch device. It might be noted that a push-pull slide type of regulator mechanism is preferable over a crank type of mechanism in certain installations, since it is much easier for a person to operate the former than the latter. This is particularly true when the regulator mechanism is used for a door ventipane window since the driver or operator usually sits immediately adjacent the vehicle door so that there is Very little room for arm movement.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle window regulator mechanism. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle window regulator mechanism of the push-pull slide type for moving a ventilator window between open and closed positions and requiring a minimum amount of effort to be exerted by the operator. A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ventilator window regulator mechanism for moving a ventipane window between open and closed positions and for holding the ventilator window in closed position against forcible movement without benefit of any independent latch de- Vice. These and other objects of this invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of a vehicle body, with parts thereof broken away, having a ventilator window and embodying a ventilator window regulator mechanism according to one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1, with parts thereof broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the plane indicated by line 3 3 of Figure 2, with parts thereof broken away for clarity of` illustration;

Figure 4 is a viewtaken along the planeindicated` by Mice line 4--4 of Figure 3, with parts thereof broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 5 is a view taken along the plane indicated by line 5 5 of Figure 2, with parts thereof broken away for clarity of illustration;l

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing another embodiment of this invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 77 of Figure 8, with parts thereof broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 8 is a view taken along the plane indicated by line 8-8 of Figure 6, with parts thereof broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 9-9 of Figure 8, with parts thereof broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the ventilator window regulator mechanism in position when the ventilator window is in open position; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 11-11 of Figure 6.

Referring now particularlly to Figures 1 through 5 of the drawings, one embodiment of a ventilator window regulator mechanism according to this invention will be described. A vehicle body 20 includes a windshield 22 and a front door 24 which is swingably mounted on the body at its forward edge 26 for movement between open and closed positions. The door 24 mounts a vertically movable door window 28 which opens and closes the rearward portion of the front door window opening 30. A ventilator window frame 32 extends upwardly from the forward portion of the door 24 and swingably mounts a ventilator window 34. The ventilator window 34 is pivotally mounted within the frame 32 for swinging move,- ment about a vertical axis defined by upper and lower pivot Shafts 36, only the lower pivot shaft being Shown.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, a support member 38 is suitably mounted withinthe door 24 betweenV the door outer panel, not shown, and the door inner panel 40` thereof and receives the lower pivot shaft 36 of the ventilator window 34. A supportV bracket 42 includes a pair of upwardly extending legs 44 which are bolted at 46 to the member 38 in order to locate the bracket 42 within the door well between the door inner and outer panel. The bracket 42 includes a housing portion 48 located between the legs 44 thereof and opening inboard of the body at50 as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. A shouldered pivot shaft 521 is journaled in the upper wall 54 of the housing 48 and bears against the lower wall thereof so` as to provide a bearing seat for the pivot shaft. The shaft 52` is slotted at S8 and receives the lower attened endV 60 of pivot shaft 36, with the pivot shaft and shaft 52 being bolted together at 62. A leaf spring 64 has one end 66 thereof bearing against one of the walls of a slot 67 in housing 48 and the other end thereof bolted at 68 to the outboard end wall of the housing, with the spring bearing against the pivot shaft 52 to provide a frictional brake holding the pivot shaft 52 in any rotative position thereof.

Bracket 42 further includes an integral guide channel 70 opening outboard of the body and bearing against the door inner panel 40. Channel 70 is provided with a slot 72 aligned with similar slots 74 in the door inner panel and in the trim panel 76. A slidable member 78 is slid` ably mounted within the undercut grooves 80 of channel member 70`and fxedly mounts a manual operating handle 82 which includes a stud 84 slidable in slots 72 and 74 and bolted to the slidable member at 86.

The slidable member 78 is further provided witha lat-^ erally outwardly extending apertured ear 88, and one end of an offset link ris pivotally secured theretoat 92; withK 3 the other end of the link being pivotally secured at 94 to an operating arm 96. As best shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the operating arm is offset and the other :end thereof is xedly secured to the lower reduced shouldered end 98 of the pivot shaft 52 which extends outwardly of the lower wall of the housing 48 and is headed over after assembly of the arm on the shaft.

As can be seen in Figures l and 2 of the drawings, the slots 72 and 74 are not normal to the pivotal axis nf the ventilator window 34 which is defined by the upper and lower aligned pivot shafts 36. Therefore, linear movement of the slidable member 78 cannot be directly applied to the arm 96 of the pivot shaft 52 by means Aof an intermediate link which is tightly and pivotally secured to the slidable member and the arm. As sho-wn `in Figure 3 of the drawings, the pivots 92 and 94 each comprise a stud which is xedly secured to the ear 88 iand arm 96, respectively, and the ends of the link 90 are arcuately shaped at 108 and are slidably mounted on the studs so as to allow for the lack of normal relationship between the pivotal axis of swinging of the ventilator window and the linear axis of moving of the slidable member.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, the operation of the ventilator window regulator mechanism will be described. The ventilator winldow s shown in closed position in Figure 2, and assume that the driver or operator desires to move the window to an open position. Briefly, when the window moves to an open position, the forward portion of the window moves inboard of the body and the rearward portion moves outboard of the body whereby the pivot shaft 36 and also the pivot shaft 52 will be swung in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5 of the drawings. Therefore, when the operator moves the window to an open position, he manually grasps the knob 82 and moves the knob to the right, as viewed in Figure 2 of the drawings within the slots 72 and 74. As the knob moves in this direction, it will shift the slidable ymember 78 to the right, as viewed. in Figures 2 and 5, and thereby bodily shift the link 90 in this same general direction. As the link shifts in this direction, it will swing the arm 96 counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 5, to thereby rotate the pivot shafts 36 and 52 in the same direction and move the Window to an open position.

When it is desired to move the window from an open to a closed position, the reverse procedure takes place, with each of the members moving in an opposite direc- `tion.

As previously mentioned, the mechanism of this invention is operative to prevent forcible movement of the window from a closed toward an open position when a force is applied to the window tending to move the window in this direction. This will now be described, and it will be remembered that when the window is in a closed position and moves toward an open position, the pivot shafts 36 and 52 must rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5. Therefore, assuming now that a force is applied to either the forward or rearward portion of the window to move the Window toward an open position, this movement will be effectively prevented since the pivots 92 and 94 lie in a line which is generally normal to the door inner panel and to the guide member 70 whereby the guide member and the door inner panel act to prevent any swinging movement whatsoever of the arm 96 when a force is applied to the window.

It is well known that the ventilator windows are usually sealed by compressible type weather strips and a substantial force, such as a torque of approximately 70 inch pounds must be applied to the pivot shafts of the ventilator window in order to move the ventilator window from a substantially closed position to a fully clpsed position to compress the weather strips. Upon reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, it can be seen that immediately prior to the time that the pivots 92 and 94 move into alignment Aalong a line which is normal to the guide member 70 and the door inner panel, a substantial clockwise torque is applied to the pivot shaft 52 through the arm 96, and this force is sufficient to easily compress the weather strips to allow the window to be moved to a fully closed position with a minimum amount of effort being required of the driver or operator.

Referring now particularly to Figures 6 through 1l of the drawings, another embodiment of this invention will be described and like numerals will be used for like parts.

As best shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, a generally U-shaped bracket opens outboard of the body and has the upper leg 112 thereof bolted at 114 to the support bracket 38 in order to locate the bracket 110 within the window well. The lower leg of the bracket is apertured at 116 and includes depending offset legs 118 and 120. A shouldered pivot shaft 122 has an intermediate portion thereof journaled within the aperture 116 and includes a slot 124 which receives the lower flattened end 126 of the pivot shaft 36, with the shafts being bolted together at 128. In order to provide a frictional brake on the pivot shaft 122 to hold the shaft in any rotative position thereof, a leaf spring 130 has one end 132 thereof bearing against one of the offset legs 118 of bracket 110 and the other leg thereof bolted at 134 to the leg 120, with the spring having an intermediate portion thereof bearing against the shaft 122, as best shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, to provide the frictional brake.

A generally U-shaped bracket 136 has the upper leg 138 thereof welded at 140 to each of the offset legs 118 of bracket 110. An outwardly opening guide channel 142 is received between the upper and lower legs 138 and 144, respectively, of the bracket 136 and is welded or otherwise secured thereto at 148. As best shown in Figures 8 and l0 of the drawings, the guide channel 142 bears against the door inner panel 40 and is provided with a slot aligned with slots 152 in the door inner panel 40 and the trim panel 76.

A handle 146 is provided with a shaft 149 which is riveted to a slide member 154 received within channel y142. The handle 146 provides a manual operating means and the shaft 149 of the handle moves within the slots 150 and 152 during movement of the handle. As best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the upper and lower edges of the slide member are provided with notches 156, approximately intermediate the ends of the member, with these notches receiving lugs 158 of a pair of nylon channel members 160 which receive the upper and lower edges of the slide member and in turn are slidably received within the upper and lower channeled legs 162 of the guide channel 142. Since the slide member 154 slidably moves within the channel 142, as will be hereinafter described, the notches 156 and lugs 158 prevent the slide member from sliding relative to the nylon channel members 160.

The slide member 154 is further provided with an apertured ear 164 and one end of a link 166 is pivotally secured thereto at 168. The other end of the link 166 is pivotally secured at 170 to one end of an offset lever 172, pivoted intermediate the ends thereof at 174 to the upper wallV 138 of bracket 136 and to the offset leg 120 of bracket 110. The other end of the lever 172 is pivoted at 178 to one end of a link 180, with the other end of the link being pivoted at 182 to an arm 184. As best shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, the other end of the arm 184 is received on the lower shouldered end 186 of the pivot shaft 122 and is fixedly secured thereto by heading over the end of the pivot shaft after assembly.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention will now be described with particular reference to Figure 9 of the drawings, which shows the mechanism in el.' e

position when the window is in closed position, and Figure of the drawings which shows the mechanism in position when the window is in open position. Briefly, when the ventilator window 34 is moved from a closed to an open position, the forward portion of the window swings inboard of the body and the rearward portion thereof swings outboard of the body, whereby the pivot shafts 122 and 36 rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 9 and 10. Assuming now that the driver or operator desires to move the ventilator window to an open position, he manually grasps the knob 146 and moves this knob to the right, as viewed in Figure 9. As the knob moves to the right, the slide member 154 will also be shifted to the right to bodily shift the link 166 in the same direction. As the link shifts in this direction, the lever 172 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 174 to thereby bodily shift the link 180 to the left and rotate the arm 184 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement of the arm rotates the shaft 122 and also the shaft 36 in the same direction to thereby move the window to an open position. When it is desired to move the window from an open to a closed position, the reverse procedure takes place, with each of the parts moving in an opposite direction.

This embodiment of the invention includes the same feature as the first embodiment in that forcible movement of the window from a closed position to an open position is effectively prevented by the window regulator mechanism. This will now be briey described with reference to Figure 9 of the drawings. When the window is in closed position, it can be seen that the pivots 170 and 168 of the link 166 are aligned and located substantially normal to the slide member 154 and also the guide channel 142. Since the lever 172 must swing in a counterclockwise direction in order for the window to be moved to an open position, the above described alignment of the pivots 168 and 170 and the normal relationship of the aligned pivots with the slide member and the guide channel prevent any movement of the lever 172.

Thus, this invention provides an improved window regulator mechanism of the push-pull slide type for easily moving a pivoted ventilator window between open and closed positions and also for effectively holding the ventilator window in closed position against any forcible movement thereof toward an open position.

We claim:

1. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator mechanism comprising, an operating member, guide means slidably mounting said member on said body for bodily linear movement relative thereto, a drive lever pivotally mounted on said body, means operatively connecting said lever to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof upon swinging movement of said drive lever about the pivot thereof on said body, and a link pivotally secured to said operating member and to said drive lever, said operating member moving the pivots of said link into a position substantially normal to said operating member and the linear path of movement thereof in the closed position of said window whereby a force applied to said window in the closed position there tending to move said window toward open position will cause said drive lever to apply a force substantially longitudinal of said pivots and normal to said operating member and the linear path of movement thereof to thereby prevent forcible movement of said window toward open position.

2. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator mechanism comprising, a horizontally slidable operating member, guide means slidably mounting said member on said body for generally horizontal bodily linear movement relative thereto, a drive lever pivotally mounted on said body, means operatively connecting said lever to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof upon swinging movement of said lever about the pivot thereof on said body, and a link pivotally secured to said operating member and to said drive lever, said operating member moving the pivots of said link into a position substantially normal to said operating member and the linear path of movement thereof in the closed position of said window whereby a force applied to said window in the closed position thereof tending to move said window toward open position will cause said drive lever to apply a force substantially longitudinal of said pivots and normal to said operating member and the linear path of movement thereof to thereby prevent forcible movement of said window toward open position.

3. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis between open and closed positions, a Ventilator window regulator mechanism comprising, a horizontally slidable operating member, linear guide means on said body slidably receiving said member to mount said member on said body for generally horizontal bodily linear movement relative thereto, manual operating means secured to said member for movement thereof within said guide means, a drive lever secured to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof, and a link pivotally secured to said operating member and to said drive lever, said operating member moving the pivots of said link into a position substantially normal to said operating member and the linear path of movement thereof in the closed position of said window whereby a force applied to said window in the closed position thereof tending to move said window toward an open position will cause said drive lever to apply a force substantiallfr longitudinal of said pivots and normal to said operating lever and in the path of movement thereof to thereby effectively prevent any forcible movement of said window toward open position a force is applied to said window to move said window toward open position.

4. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator mechanism comprising, a horizontally slidable operating member, linear guide means on said body slidably receiving said member for mounting said member on said body for bodily horizontal linear movement relative thereto, a drive lever secured to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof, an ntermittent lever swingably mounted on said body, nxeans pivotally connecting said intermittent lever to said drive lever, and a link pivotally secured to said operating member and to said intermittent lever, said operating member moving the pivots of said link into a position substantially normal to said member and the path of movement thereof in the closed position of said window whereby a force applied to said window in the closed position thereof tending to move said window toward open position will cause said intermittent lever to apply a force substantially longitudinal of the pivots of said link and normal to said operating member and in the path of movement thereof to thereby effectively prevent any movement of said window toward open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,570 Dennis Jan. 6, 1953 

